<p>The footy season is over, and the Australian Men’s cricket team is back in action.&nbsp;</p> <p>It’s not their first assignment of the summer, that was run and won last month with a Top-End series victory over South Africa, but before the domestic season properly gets underway, the Aussie men are heading across the ditch for a very quick, three-match T20 series for the annually contested Chappell-Hadlee Trophy.&nbsp;</p> <p>Additionally, this series marks the 20th anniversary of the first-ever T20 international ever played, contested between New Zealand and Australia in Auckland.&nbsp;</p> <p>This series forms a part of both nations' preparation for next year's 2026 T20 World Cup. But even more so, it’s a chance to get one up on the Trans-Tasman rivalry, which remains strong.</p> <p>How are the Aussies shaping up? Can they return home with a clean sweep? Or will the home side make the most of their local knowledge and home conditions?</p> <p>For the latest news, odds, analysis, and betting tips, read Sportsbet’s comprehensive preview of the New Zealand vs Australia T20 Series for the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy below.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>What is the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy?</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The Chappell-Hadlee Trophy is a Cricket Trophy contested between Australia and New Zealand. It is named after Australian and New Zealand cricketing greats, the Chappell brothers, Ian, Greg, and Trevor Chappell, and the Hadlee family in New Zealand - Walter and his sons Barry, Dayle, and Sir Richard.&nbsp;</p> <p>Commissioned in 2004 to honour the cricketing greats, both cricket boards at the time hoped that the trophy would be contested on an annual basis in an ODI series. It was for six straight years until the international schedule got too packed.&nbsp;</p> <p>After several years of the trophy being awarded to the winning team following a head-to-head World Cup fixture between the two nations, the series has been revived in recent seasons, alternating between a One-Day International format and a Twenty20 format to fit it in and align with the packed schedule.&nbsp;</p> <h2>When is the 2025 Chappell-Hadlee Trophy?</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The 2025 Chappell-Hadlee series commences on Wednesday, October 1, with all three games taking place at the Bay Oval, at Mount Maunganui.&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>First T20:</strong>&nbsp; October 1, Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui, 4.15 pm AEST</p> <p><strong>Second T20:&nbsp;</strong> October 3, Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui, 4.15 pm AEST</p> <p><strong>Third T20:&nbsp;</strong> October 4, Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui, 4.15 pm AEST</p> <p><br /> &nbsp;</p> <h2>How to watch the 2025 Chappell-Hadlee Trophy in Australia</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>All games in the 2025 Chappell-Hadlee series between New Zealand and Australia will be streamed live on Kayo Sports and Foxtel.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Squads for 2025 Chappell-Hadlee Trophy</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Australia: </strong>Mitch Marsh (c), Sean Abbott, Xavier Bartlett, Tim David, Ben Dwarshuis, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matt Kuhnemann, Mitchell Owen, Josh Philippe, Matthew Short, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>New Zealand: </strong>Michael Bracewell (c), Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Zak Foulkes, Matt Henry, Bevon Jacobs, Kyle Jamieson, Daryl Mitchell, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Robinson, Ben Sears, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>New Zealand vs Australia - Chappell-Hadlee Trophy Series Predictions &amp; Betting Tips</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Who Will Win</h3> <p>It’s a quick series, which means the action will be thick, fast, and ultra competitive.&nbsp;</p> <p>It’s a series that presents as key preparation for the upcoming tournament in early 2026. But for Australia and their immediate cricketing priorities, they have bigger fish to fry with a looming Ashes series staring them down.&nbsp;</p> <p>While they have named a strong team, this series is another chance to get match miles into the legs of key players who have a role to play both in the summer ahead and in the subcontinent for the ICC tournament.</p> <p>New Zealand, while missing some players from injury, has the batting firepower to trouble Australia. Devon Conway, Tim Seifert, and Rachin Ravindra all hold the key for the Kiwis and have experience in coming up against and performing strongly against Australia across all formats.&nbsp;</p> <p>Australia’s middle order and firepower is something that sets them apart, though, and is something they are building strongly with an eye towards the upcoming competition. Should they all get in, they will post some big, big scores.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Betting tip: </strong><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/cricket/international-twenty20-matches/new-zealand-v-australia-9611420">Australia</a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Most Runs</h3> <p>Could this be the series that settles Australia’s opening combination at the top for the World Cup?</p> <p>Travis Head is a lock. Matt Short is back in the fold, but the skipper, Mitch Marsh, who has promoted himself in the past two series against West Indies and South Africa, has worked brilliantly in getting the Aussies off to a flyer.&nbsp;</p> <p>We’re backing the skipper to continue setting the tone with early big bombs and lead the run scoring in this whiz-bang series.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/cricket/international-twenty20-matches/new-zealand-v-australia-9611420">Mitch Marsh</a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Leading Wicket Taker</h3> <p>The hosts might be battling a little to field their strongest team on the injury front, but they have one strike weapon back in the form of fast bowler Ben Sears.</p> <p>Hitting speeds regularly in excess of 140+ kmph, Sears knows how to rattle the stumps and get batters jumping around. He made an impression on his Test debut against Australia, where he claimed the prized wicket of Steve Smith as part of his five-wicket haul on debut.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/cricket/international-twenty20-matches/new-zealand-v-australia-9611420">Ben Sears</a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p>